Live Timeline: Adam Montgomery Trial for Murder of Harmony Montgomery
Updated: Feb 23
Thursday, February 22
Deliberations continue, verdict reached
While deliberating, the jury asked. one question.
Jury asked: "How does the court define consciously disregarded?"
Court's answer: "The jury has been given the legal definition of the mental state recklessly. You must use the definition provided. You should use your common sense in judgment, and consider the ordinary usage of the terms within the definition. No additional instruction on this will be provided."
The jury reached a verdict at 1:15 PM
Jury finds Adam Montgomery guilty on all charges
Second-Degree Assault: Guilty
Second-Degree Murder: Guilty
Falsifying Physical Evidence: Guilty
Abuse of Corpse: Guilty
Tampering with Witnesses and Informants: Guilty
Senior Assistant AG Benjamin Agati, Manchester Police Chief Allen Aldenberg, and Harmony's mother Chrystal Sorey spoke after court was dismissed.
Senior Assistant AG Benjamin Agati spoke about the breadth of the work and communication among departments nationwide on this case. He also expressed his gratitude for the jury, especially given the difficulty and length of this case.
Senior Assistant AG Agati also spoke about the continued search for Harmony's body, given the known area of Adam's U-Haul trip.
He also noted that under NH Law, Adam is required to be present in court for the sentencing.
Chief Aldenberg expressed his gratitude for the team that worked on this case.
He also noted that there were failures before the Manchester Police Department got became aware of the case and listened to Crystal's concerns. He stated that he "still firmly believe[s] that some people in other agencies need to be held accountable," because "we wouldn't be standing here today if other people had done their job."
Chief Aldenberg also stated that it is not over, "We’ve still got to find her. This girl deserves better than the life that she had."
Crystal stated she finally feels "relieved that some justice is being served." While talking about Adam, she stated, "He thought he was so untouchable and that she didn’t matter and that no one would miss her and he was so wrong. He was so wrong.”
Wednesday, February 21
Defense calls no witnesses, closing arguments made, jury begins deliberations
Judge Messer notes that posters have been placed in courthouse regarding the case and instructs jury to consider only the information presented during trial in reaching a verdict
Defense calls no witnesses
Defense’s Closing Argument
Defense argued that Kayla mixed truth with lies in her testimony against Adam, and maintained that he did not kill his “baby girl” and only “hid and manipulated” Harmony’s body to keep his family together.
Urged the jury to look past the “horror and emotion” of what Kayla said on the stand to see that “they are lies intertwined with truth.”
Further argued that it was highly improbable that Adam beat and yelled at Harmony outside of the methadone clinic and at stop lights on the way to Burger King without anyone noticing.
Attempted to undermine Kayla’s testimony that Adam ordered three croissants, one for her, one for him, and one for Harmony, after allegedly beating Harmony to death
Questioned Kayla’s failure to seek help or assistance upon recognizing that Harmony was dead
Argued that “instinct” would have compelled Kayla to protect Harmony against Adam’s beatings if they had actually occurred
“No one can maintain love for a man who would do something like that” the Defense argued.
Suggested that Adam was not a threat to Kayla, but rather her protector, taking the fall for something he did not do
Noted that Kayla seemed to “move on” from Harmony’s death, whereas Adam tried to commit suicide several times in the aftermath of Harmony’s death.
Focused on how Kayla was her own person and not dependant on Adam
Maintained that Adam’s uncle, Kevin, who Kayla claimed Adam said would kill her if she went to the police, was the same one who called child protective services for Harmony
Attacked Kayla’s conflicting testimony regarding the use of power tools in the bathroom of the Union St apartment to dismember Harmony’s body
Maintained that Adam never attempted to hide Harmony from view while she was alive and that Harmony was seen by several other people with no apparent injuries in the days leading up to her death
Noted that no blood was found in the car despite Kayla’s claim that Adam beat Harmony severely enough to cause her nose to bleed
“She’s lying because the truth points to her”
“Adam did some very bad things, but he did not kill his daughter”
State’s Closing Argument
Reiterated Adam’s admission to Travis Beach that “I fucked up”
Argued Adam was an “enraged tyrant” that had no business being around Harmony
Maintained that Adam conceded to falsifying physical evidence and abuse of corpse out of necessity, because he could not reasonably deny them, not because he wanted to take responsibility for his actions
Adam “admits what he can’t deny and denies what he can’t afford to admit”
“Getting rid of evidence, that’s what murders do”
Focused on the testimony of others regarding Harmony’s abuse, including Adam’s uncle Kevin’s testimony that Adam told him he “bashed her (Harmony) around the fucking house”
Maintained that young children adapt to their environment and would have likely acclimated to Adam’s beatings of Harmony, not causing a “cascade of chaos” as the Defense tried to argue
Conceded that Kayla did nothing to help Harmony, but that “you don’t have to like her to believe her”
Argued the Defense wants to “have their cake and eat it too” when it comes to the characterization of Kayla as both a master manipulator and an admitted failure in protecting Harmony
Maintained that Kayla is a “battered woman” who admitted the “inconvenient truth” that she did nothing to help Harmony prior to her death
“Kayla did nothing, and you can’t get something from nothing”
Argued that even in the absence of Kayla’s testimony, there is still ample evidence to convict the defendant
Suggested that Adam’s paranoia after Harmony’s death was not a sign of depression or mental illness, but of a guilty conscience
Undermined the Defense’s theory that “something happened” to Harmony early in the morning of December 7, 2019 while Adam was away, noting that Adam was not working for Tony Bodero nor anyone else at the time and therefore had “no business” to attend to
Addressed the relative lack of physical evidence due to “time and elements” wearing down human DNA as well as Adam’s efforts in cleaning the car and other locations where Harmony’s body was stored
Noted that Kayla could not have known about most of the physical evidence that was later discovered to corroborate her statement to detectives
Argued that Adam would have reacted violently if Harmony had died while she was alone with Kayla in the middle of the night and would not have allowed her to continue to watch his remaining two children
Adam believes “Harmony’s life and death are a waste of time” the State declared, referencing Adam’s remarks from a recorded phone conversation where he stated investigators were “wast[ing] their time” looking for Harmony
Adam “forfeited” his right to be called Harmony’s father when he beat her to death in the car
“She was an object” to Adam, not a person, the State argued
Judge Messer delivered final instructions to the jury before deliberations
Jury was excused for deliberations at 1:15 PM
Tuesday, February 20
Four witnesses take the stand, the State rests, Judge rules on motions
Douglas Small, grandfather of Kelsey Small
Owns several one-family properties in Maine
Reviewed images from Walmart surveillance footage to identify Adam Montgomery and Kelsey Small
November 11, 2021 Adam and Kelsey stayed with him for several weeks
Loaned Kelsey his gray 2006 Pontiac GrandPrix in late 2021
Investigators searched some of Small’s properties for Harmony, including a one-room schoolhouse
No evidence was found
Bryan Hernandez, Mass. State Trooper
Acted as liaison between Mass State Police and MPD
In September 2022 Hernandez began investigating, received toll records of Adam Montgomery
Reviewed images of the license plate of Adam’s U-Haul van and noted three images captured early morning of March 4, 2020, for Tobin Bridge North, South, and North. Tobin Bridge is just outside of Boston.
Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) assisted in investigation, searched various areas in the vicinity of Tobin Bridge for Harmony’s body over the course of several days
No evidence was found
Rebecca Maines, inmate at NH State Prison for Women
Met Adam in 2021, considered him her best friend
Adam told her he dropped Harmony off with her mother in 2019 and that her mother would not allow him to see Harmony
Also told Maines that Harmony had frequent bathroom accidents, sometimes “on purpose”
Said he sent her back to her mother’s because she would “constantly shit her pants”
Adam told her he “backhanded” Harmony when he saw her holding her hand over his other child's face
Adam said Harmony reminded him of her mother and that “he hated her”
On cross, defense focused on Maines criminal record, to which Maines responded “I don’t know that we need to go through all of this, I’m telling you, I’m a criminal”
Testified that she introduced Adam and Kelsey
According to defense, Maines told detectives that she would like to see Adam in prison but that she would need their help to do that
On redirect, testified that she has no promises from the State regarding her current or previous charges in exchange for testimony against Adam
Clarified that Adam told her he brought Harmony to her mother’s Thanksgiving of 2019
On recross, indicated that Adam told her he wanted to “make sure [Harmony] had the proper care” in sending her to her mother’s
Matthew Laroachelle, Captain with MPD
Worked with various local, state, and federal agencies (FBI, US Marshals) during the course of Harmony investigation
Discovered Harmony was never enrolled in school
Received and investigated a tip that Harmony was alive and attending school in Surprise, AZ
Reviewed a recording of a phone conversation between Adam and an unknown person where Adam stated investigators were “wast[ing] their time” searching for Harmony’s body
State rests
Jury dismissed at 11:45 AM
Defense, State, and Judge Amy Messer discusses several matters
Defense argues for dismissal of 2nd-degree murder and assault charge based on Kayla’s testimony, noting that she is convicted perjurer and that parts of her testimony regarding Adam’s assault on Harmony are “frankly ludicrous” given the public nature where many of the assaults are alleged to have taken place and the fact no one else apparently noticed or attempted to intervene.
Defense also argued to remove witness tampering charge claiming that Kayla was a voluntary co-conspirator in the effort to conceal Harmony’s body after her death
State maintains that Kayla’s testimony alone is sufficient to convict, but that it does not have to be relied on alone as there is copious additional evidence to support a conviction. State further argues that it is very easy to “be violent” towards a small child lying in the backseat of a car
State refers to evidence of physical abuse to support charge of witness tampering, arguing Kayla only lied to grand jury to comply with Adam’s demands to “stick with the story”
Judge Messer denied all three motions to dismiss by defense
Trial will resume Wednesday at 10:00 AM
Credit Charles Krupa/AP/Pool
Monday, February 19
No court for the President’s Day holiday
Friday, February 16
Eight witnesses take the stand
Travis Beach, ex-boyfriend of Brittany Bedard
Co-worker of Brendon Middleton at Accurate Tree Service
Known Adam Montgomery since he was 17
Reconnected with Adam at the Mall of NH food court early 2020, Adam asked if Beach could rent a U-Haul for him, Beach “didn’t hesitate to help a friend”
Testified he initially asked Bedard, then Middleton, to rent the U-Haul on Adam’s behalf, as he did not have a license
Testified that he, Bedard, Middleton, Adam and Kayla all returned to EconoLodge after renting the U-Haul to do cocaine
Adam told Beach 4 to 5 times “I fucked up” while pacing in the parking lot of the EconoLodge
Testified that he never saw Adam drive the U-Haul
Reviewed Facebook messages he sent to Adam asking where the van was when Adam was late to drop it off, Adam responded “please don’t message me stuff like this on FB again”
Beach assumed Adam was moving, did not suspect anything suspicious
Testified he was not allowed to talk to Kayla
On cross, Beach testified he did not recall exactly when he reconnected with Adam at the food court but that it was prior to the events in March 2020
Tarah Hilbert, property manager for 644 Union St apartment
Testified that Adam and Kayla’s children would play with her children in the parking lot
Adam told Hilbert that Harmony’s mother took her back to Lowell, Massachusetts
Did not see Adam or Kayla for the first 6 months after they moved in
Testified that Adam beat Kayla “pretty bad” and that she took Kayla and the two boys to a hotel at one point to get her away from Adam
Adam and Kayla were ultimately evicted
On cross, Hilbert noted that she remained friends with Kayla even after her arrest
Jessica Guerin, employee of Granite State Recovery
Dated Shane Perkins, a friend of Adam’s
Testified Adam lived at 214 Auburn St with Shane
At one point in May of 2021 Adam mentioned having a daughter to her but very quickly changed the subject
Nicole Giles, resident of FIT shelter Unit 8
Met Adam at FIT shelter
Spoke to Adam and Kayla daily
Testified she regularly saw Kayla with bruises all over her and that Kayla told her in private they were from Adam but she was afraid to leave him
Helped Montgomery's move from FIT shelter to Union St apartment
Visited them at their new apartment, noted apartment was cluttered, messy, infested with cockroaches, light fixtures were hanging from ceiling
Testified that Adam often told her he believed he was being surveilled, that the number 5 bus was following him, and that cameras/microphones were in the lights of the apartment
On cross, Giles noted she was interviewed June 2022 by two MPD detectives about Harmony and that she told them she never observed any evidence of abuse by Adam towards Kayla
On redirect, Giles noted that an MPD detective met with her again January of 2024 and that she changed her mind regarding testifying against Adam because she’s a mother and felt for Harmony and her family
On recross, Giles admitted that she was not forced to speak with detectives in June of 2022 and that the interview was voluntary
Michael Dobe, security officer at Walmart
Discussed the function of the EcoATM in the store in which he worked, a “digital pawn shop” that allows users to receive cash for unwanted electronic devices
MPD requested and received security footage from December 30, 2021 from that EcoATM location
Reviewed footage showing three individuals, a male that appeared to be Adam, a female that appeared to be Kayla, and an unknown female, enter the Walmart at which he was employed and use the EcoATM
Adam and the unknown female are seen eventually leaving the EcoATM and then walking through the cosmetics section of the store
Adam Bergeron-Rosa, detective with MPD
Testified he is currently out on medical leave and has a sensitivity to light
Processed the blue Audi from January 21 thru 23 2022, the FIT crime scene, and the basement area of Union St apartments, focusing on the drain pipes
Testified the FBI was also present during Union St processing focusing on the upper level of the building
Explained that investigators power washed the inside of the pipes, forcing their contents through a set of sifters to collect anything of evidentiary value
Testified that a forensic anthropologist was also present in case any human remains were found
Explained LeadsOnline system used to help police locate stolen items that are taken to pawn shops for “quick cash”
Tracked Kelsey Small and Adam Montgomery for stolen items that were taken to an EcoATM at Walmart
Recovered a Samsung Galaxy phone that Small attempted to sell to the ATM
Louis Krawczyk, detective with MPD
Specializes in cyber crimes and analyzing digital evidence
Discussed the use of GrayKey, hardware, used to gain access to phone’s contents
Noted that even deleted files can be recovered
Reviewed FB messages found on phone requesting jumper cables for a dead car between Adam Montgomery and Travis Beach
On cross, Krawczyk noted that the FB messages were not necessarily written from the phone but rather that the phone was logged into the account from which the messages were sent and received
Craig Stanzel, juvenile detective with MPD and SRO at Memorial High School
Located the vehicle Adam Montgomery lived in, blue Pontiac with Maine plates, registered to Douglas Small on December 31, 2021
Reviewed bodycam footage taken from his encounter with Adam showing Adam wearing the same shirt as in the Walmart surveillance footage - there was no audio
On cross, testified that he searched the parking lot in which he found Adam because it was a known lot for homeless people
Judge Messer noted that evidence was being presented more quickly than anticipated and that trial should be over by end of next week
Court concluded at 2:30 PM
Credit David Lane/Union Leader/Pool
Thursday, February 15
Nine witnesses take the stand
Alan Ackroyd-Isales, senior DNA analyst at DNA Labs International
Testified that his lab was able to develop a DNA profile for Harmony taken from Harmony’s Trolls toothbrush as well as for Adam Montgomery and Crystal Sorey
Testified that he performed DNA analysis on two samples taken from the sheetrock ceiling tile
Ambiguity in profile led him to conclude there were two contributors
Analysis found that DNA profile was 4.1 billion times more likely to be Harmony and an unknown person than two unknown persons
Further found it was 12 times and 18 times more likely to be two unknown persons than either Crystal or Adam, respectively
Could not conclusively identify the second contributor due to insufficient genetic data
Also performed analysis on two rails from ceiling which revealed a single contributor
Analysis indicated that the contributor was 1.4 trillion times more likely to be Harmony than an unknown person
Noted that he also tested samples from various other materials on which blood was indicated but that results were inconclusive for DNA comparison purposes
On cross, testified that DNA Labs Int. uses a unique type of DNA analysis that allows for analysis of complex or degraded DNA, namely “probabilistic genotyping” (PG)
Explained how PG software program works to analyze DNA using successively more accurate guesses until it reaches a final result
“I can only provide probabilities, not conclusions.”
Never received a reference profile for Kayla Montgomery
On redirect, clarified that his laboratory is not the only one in the country to use PG analysis and that the software program has been in use since 2015
Emily Thompson, delivery driver at Portland Pie Co
Worked with Adam in winter of 2020 at Portland Pie
Testified she saw Adam either enter or exit the walk-in cooler with a bag on one occasion
Cameron Gibney, front-of-house manager at Portland Pie Co
Testified Adam worked in the kitchen as a cook
Testified he also saw Adam place a bag in the walk-in cooler
Identified a photo of the bag shown to him by the state as Adam’s bag
Eugene Wasson, employee of Home Depot
Reviewed transaction history document of Manchester Home Depot showing the purchase of a 40 lb bag of limestone, a fuel grinder, a Milwaukee battery, and a Diablo blade for a total of $400 paid cash on February 26, 2020, presumed to be Adam Montgomery per the State
On cross, Wasson testified that he could not say for sure who the purchaser was since they paid in cash and did not know for how long Home Depot kept surveillance camera footage
Max Rahill, MPD detective
Worked with other investigators to collect and document evidence from FIT room where ceiling tile was found
Processed room and bathroom with Bluestar
Reviewed Kayla Montgomery’s bank account records and noted that it was a shared account
Noted that a withdrawal of $500 dollars was made from Citizens Bank on February 26, 2020, the same date the limestone, fuel grinder, Milwaukee battery, and Diablo blade was allegedly purchased by Adam Montgomery at Home Depot
Requested but did not receive surveillance footage from Citizens Bank as the footage no longer existed by the time the request was made in 2022
Requested but did not receive surveillance footage from Home Depot as the footage no longer existed by the time the request was made in 2022
On cross, testified that when he presented photographs of different types of lime to Kayla during proffer she indicated only one that was “the most similar,” not identical to, the bag she saw in the bathroom
Noted that Kayla never mentioned that power tools were used in the bathroom during interview, only that a circular saw was located in the apartment they were living in at the time and that Adam said he was going to “try to put her [Harmony] in pieces”
This was not the tool from the Home Depot receipt, a fuel grinder
Brittany Bedard, stayed at EconoLodge during the same time as Adam and Kayla
Stayed at EconoLodge March 3-4 2020 and put a second room for Kayla and Adam in her name
Adam was a friend of her boyfriend at the time, Travis Beach
Testified that she saw Adam driving a rented U-Haul truck
Testified that Adam was accompanied by another man, unknown, while he stayed at the motel
On cross, testified that she saw Kayla had a stroller containing a CMC bag
Dennis Cloutier, maintenance worker at 644 Union St
Responded to maintenance request for Adam’s apartment on February 27, 2020
Adam complained that tub was not draining, Cloutier snaked the drain and replaced the overflow plate
Had to return later to replace lights which had been pulled from sockets, Adam said he pulled them out because he thought there were cameras in them
Brendon Middleton, inmate at Hillsborough County House of Corrections
Friend of Travis Beach and Brittany Bedard
March 3, 2020 Middleton rented a U-Haul van for Travis and Brittany
Met Beach at a gas station on South Willow to transfer the van to him after renting it from the South Willow U-Haul
Never knew Adam or Kayla Montgomery
Rosanne Smith, driver for Pelican Transportation
Drove Adam, Kayla and family to methadone clinic on Market St
Harmony was never present from the time she started driving them in December of 2019
On March 2021 , a “ride [she] will never forget”, Smith testified that she noticed Kayla’s left eye was badly bruised and starting to swell shut as she drove Kayla and Adam to the clinic
She tried to give Kayla her phone to “call for help” when she dropped Adam off at their apartment after driving them to the clinic but Adam, in a state of “pure rage,” reached into the car and tried to snatch the phone away from her
Testified that she stated “Adam I love you, I’m trying to help you two,” after which Adam “softened” and released the phone
Court concluded at 3:55 PM
Credit David Lane/Union Leader/Pool
Wednesday, February 14
Six witnesses take the stand, Swango continues testimony
Adam Montgomery did not appear in court.
The state continues calling witnesses.
Katie Swango continued her testimony
Testified that DNA profile of Harmony’s toothbrush was sent to National DNA Database as a missing person
During cross, Swango noted that two swabs were sent to DNA analysis unit even though not determined to be blood during serology testing
Swabs from trunk of Sebring were also analyzed
No DNA evidence was obtained
Scott Riley, former juvenile detective for MPD
Testified that it was “all hands on deck” when Harmony investigation started at MPD office
Testified that MPD received a tip from their interview with Kayla that Harmony’s body was stored in ceiling of FIT shelter
Riley reviewed documents related to the Montgomery family’s stay in FIT, including work order requesting investigation of the vents due to a “weird smell”
Discussed his investigation of Unit 1 at FIT, noted that he smelled “decomp” when he walked into the room, worked for about an hour to cut stained ceiling tile from ceiling
July 20, 2022 drove ceiling tile to Florida DNA Lab, drove straight through without stopping to sleep, appeared confident the sample was not disturbed or tampered with during transit
During cross, noted that he talked to Kayla both at FIT and at the police station, advised her she could have an attorney and that the interview was voluntary
Reviewed note on January 31, 2022 written by Kayla that was discovered in her cell after her arrest during a cell search
Discussed how chain of custody is preserved in handling evidence
Ray Lemy, detective with MPD
Discussed how he processed evidence involved in the case starting around January 2022, including the ceiling tile taken from FIT
Used a Kastle-Meyer test on ceiling tile, a test used to detect blood, and submitted the tile to Florida DNA lab for further analysis based on test results
Also used a Hemostick, a tool used to test for the presence of blood, to test items from the blue Audi, sent all positive tests to NH State Forensics Lab
Removed various items from evidence, including the ceiling title, and displayed them to the jury
During cross, discussed additional items taken from the blue Audi and submitted to forensics lab
Testified that he assisted Det. O’Leary in processing the Sebring using Bluestar
Rachel Radwich, evidence supervisor at MPD
Discussed protocols for storage and processing of evidence at MPD facility
Noted that she smelled a “strong rotting odor” while analyzing the ceiling tile
Yard Lujano, contractor
Appeared with interpreter
Testified that he installed the sheetrock ceiling tile at FIT shelter
Otherwise had no apparent connection to the case
Kevin McHahon, retired criminologist for the NH State Police Forensic Lab
Discussed analyzing evidence gathered from blue Audi as well as the Igloo cooler in which Harmony’s body was allegedly stored, noting that no blood was found
Also discussed taking samples from the stained ceiling tile, noting that blood was found
Martin Orlowicz, Latent Print Examiner for MPD
Discussed techniques of fingerprint analysis such as ACE methodology (analysis, comparison, evaluation)
Examined Igloo cooler to confirm it was the one he analyzed for fingerprints
Testified that he did not find any prints at the time of analysis
Testified that he was able to find prints belonging to Adam Montgomery on both the metal rods that supported the ceiling tile as well as the metal vent that allegedly held Harmony’s decomposing body
On cross, testified that he did not notice any indications that anyone had attempted to wipe the cooler of prints
Court concluded a little after 4:00 PM
